Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-07-28
MY QUEER LEGACY.
How I Decarne Known as Brown,
the Philanthrorist."

lnb ELlitAl bnTOI ISL
am very sharp-sighted man.
nm also difiident My difIidencc has
stood in my way throughout my life,
IL is so horribly apparent; and il is
probably through my unfortunate
diflidencc that have so few friends
hardly know a soul at my club outside
the card room, where Il used to be my
custom to play forr rubbers Of whist
oyery afternoon. The card-room at
the Rice and Curry Club. when was IA
rseless member Of society, was my
idea of perfect bliss; there were no
draughts there, NO noises, no disturb
ing influences. Last year some of the
Radical reformers-for we have Radi-
cal reformers even at the Rice and
Curry--succeeded in introducing a
ridiculous innovation. In the memory
of the oldest member. no female form,
during club hours at least, WIS ever
known TO desecrate that great MON
astery Of Oriental dervishes, the Rice
and Curry. But they made an absurd
addition to the rules last year.
Ladies' are allowed to partake Of re-
freshmcnts in the strangers dining
room at the Rice and Curry, II accom-
panied by a member. during certain
hours Of the afternoon. The strangers
dining-room is a gruesome apartment.
and don't think the ladies hate much
TO be thankful for. With this new
tangled exception, l am happy to say
that the Rice and Curry is still free
from any disturbing influence.
am by no means brilliant whist
player Iobject to the Peter" and
look upon it as form Of swindling; il
may be a prejudice, it probably is.
You will agree that / am not n brill
liant whist player when say that my
losses at the game. though l never
bet, certainly used to cost me f2OO a
year. That was very serious matter
- me then, for 1t was before l came
into my fortune, before / became n
busy man and philanthropist.
Il Is of tho strange manner Of my
coming into the fortune, and Of my
becoming philanthropist. that am
about to tell Philanthropy, like dram
drinking is an affcctation that grows
on one; ], whose sumnium b0nam was
quiet rubber am now a rabid phil
anthropist. This is how it came about;
Though am a very difident man,
Campbell was certainly more retiring.
Campbell was China merchant.
do not mean that he sold crockery, but
he had been head Of great mercantile
firm in China, and in China he had
made his money. 1 had never spoken
10 Campbell in my life; he was a sad.
looking man, very taciturn, but be
used 10 smoke uncommonly good ci
gars. He used 10 sit on one side Of ia,
fireplace, on the other. and there W,
sat and smoked far into the night
After several years we used TO mol "a
zach other, but we lever spoke; tha
would have been quite contrary to th,
etiquette at the Rice and Curry. Wugs
by--a most Objectionable person, wh'
looks upon himself rs the club wit an,
keeps little manuscript book Of Jokes
In which he notes any thing amusing
that he may pick up, and probably
afterwards passes II off as his own -
iaid that Campbell aud l Iesembled tn
two statues at the gate Of Bedlam-
Melancholy and haying Madness o
course he meant 10 hurt my feelings
but he failed; for took the Melancho
ly 10 myself, in which there Is nothing
degrading. and put the Raving Mad
ness down TO Campbell. Possibly Camp
bell did as did.
As have said, l am very sharp
sighted, ! sat staring at Campbell Il
he smoked In silepec. had been Il
that chair for about two hours. an,
when say that had only just orlere,
my second glass, it viii be seen that
am not drinking man. Campbell /
old-fnshioned, and always shows
large expanso Of shirt-front. Wer
my eyes deceiving me? They neyc
yet had deceived me. those sharp eye
Of mine. But there could not be
doubt Of IL; an insect was slowly. YER
slowly, crawling up Campbel's shirt
front. il will be quite sufficient whe
/ vail the vulgar name Of that insec
by saying that the name Of a certail
musical note expressed its character
would have travelled with Campbell
IN the same carriage from London 4
Edlnburg. or from Southampton 4
Bombay in the same +. and 0. boat
without speaking 90 him. But thi
was not moment for half meas
urcs.
Il beg sour pardon" I saidi don
move. but there scr "a something Of
your shirt
Campbell lowered his eyes; he mores
The objectionable thing aud thankes
me. but he did 50 IN careless sort O
way. ~ though the hndlag d opjec
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